So out pours "Tasha's Cauldron of Everything", and amidst that chaotic soup we got some not-so-minor tweaks to the Bladesinger subclass, including A) no racial restriction to the elvish lineage, and B) the ability to cast & slash with Extra Attack, so long as you use a cantrip.
This has opened the subclass freely to other races seeking to benefit from the subclass features, without relying on DM discretion (of course, most DM's would allows such things normally).
Personally, while you COULD concoct a reason why a sacred elven combat tradition somehow ended up being utilized by, say, an orc or a tiefling...I find that it may be better to utilize similar traditions from other races.
For example...perhaps halflings have their own version of the Bladesong, refined from the music of their festivals, and tales of their spur-of-the-moment adventures.
Or maybe goliath's have their own versions of viking skalds, weaving magic from their own brutal fighting styles & stories of daring feats (as they are known to celebrate competition).
Maybe a tiefling inherited a bloodline of Levistus, who, before he was a ice cube, was quite the dashing swashbuckler...or perhaps your tiefling is of Zariel; her martial prowess as a former celestial warrior imparting a bizarre gift within your tiefling curse.
Personally, I'm thinking of a dwarf...I have a dwarf character who has been a bard, and a barbarian in equal measure, who was a warrior of the goddess Haela Brightaxe.
A Bladesinger fits well within her concept...performing & fighting. And dwarves are known to sing songs of their ancestors within their halls, and celebrate bravery & victory. An affinity for magic provides a nice hook for why she broke off and went adventuring...as opposed to the rigid teachings of dwarf society: Haela rewards risk-takers, and bold new strategies.
But I'd like to hear how others plan on using the changes from "Tasha's Cauldron" to create their own unique Bladesingers.
What racial combinations do you plan on using? What do you think of the Bladesinger changes? What are some character backstories you have in mind...?
I'm not fond of the bladesinger changes due to bladesong being nerfed, and I am /especially/ not fond of the racial changes to abilities.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
One thing to note, Bladesingers don't technically sing to make the Bladesong work. It's not a musical song like a bard would sing. The name makes it a bit confusing but it's actually just a magical ability that incorporates sword fighting. It mimics a dance. They don't run around swinging a sword singing some elven opera (although I love the visual). I read somewhere they call it a song because the sound the sword makes as it sings through the air. You could be in bladesong while being completely silent.
That said, you could totally make a bladesinger Dwarf and could flavor it however you wanted. One thought is to substitute the grace of the elf with the brutality. Maybe the song is a rhythmic pounding of the axe meeting steel and flesh instead of the blade singing as it cuts through the air.
Personally, because I run my campaign in FR, I would allow for a non-elven character to be a Bladesinger but only if it was sufficiently well fleshed out in the backstory. Which is quite easy because the art of blade singing is taught in a master-apprentice way so the backstory of a renegate elven bladesinger who fell in love with non elven partner or took a non elven child under their wings and secretely taught them the art practically writes itself. You can imagine the master being found out, tried for treason, banished etc. for teaching the stuff, the player can have a moral conflict to use the skill that essentially got their master killed/banished and so on. Lots of cool stuff to choose from.
Well, bladesinger used to use spells from the School of Song. Effectively, the original bladesinger were psuedo-sword-bards, and that sub-class is actually closer to the original flavor of the bladesinger. Now? Bladesinger is just another name for a fighter-wizard mix. Spell blade, swordmage, eldritch knight, etc. There's nothing distinctly elvish or fae about it anymore.
My point is that there's really no need of racial variants of bladesinger. It's already generic. All bladesingers pretty much use roughly the same spells, given the limited amount of melee wizard spell options. The only real variation will be weapon choices, maybe armor and feats.
One thing to note, Bladesingers don't technically sing to make the Bladesong work. It's not a musical song like a bard would sing. The name makes it a bit confusing but it's actually just a magical ability that incorporates sword fighting. It mimics a dance. They don't run around swinging a sword singing some elven opera (although I love the visual). I read somewhere they call it a song because the sound the sword makes as it sings through the air. You could be in bladesong while being completely silent.
That said, you could totally make a bladesinger Dwarf and could flavor it however you wanted. One thought is to substitute the grace of the elf with the brutality. Maybe the song is a rhythmic pounding of the axe meeting steel and flesh instead of the blade singing as it cuts through the air.
You are quite correct; the term "Bladesong" IS the sound of the weapon swooping through the air at a speed which creates a whistling sound.
In some cases, though, this WAS supplemented with the bladesinger humming or chanting in unison with the noise...which I always attributed to the verbal components of spells.
Different tune + different pitch = different spell : )
Their proficiency in "Performance" always left me feeling like they would naturally add the "song" to their "dance".
A dwarf would likely be all "stomp", "clang" or some bombastic style : )
I'm a big fan of reflavoring... So when I look at something like bladesong.. my most important component is that this is a "mode" my character enters, which appears to make them faster and more agile.. So for example.. Imagine an Air Genasi who channels their air magic through their weapons.. the visual effect being that they'd sort create a pocket of wind around them by dragging the air with their swords in fast ryhmic motions... Then I'd mainly pick air based magic and otherwise reflavor other spells to tie into this bubble of wind.. Haste being obvious.. Spirit shroud being the wind lashing at my target as I strike them...
A tiefling could summon a bunch of ash which would swirl up around them, making them hard to see (justified the increased ac)..
For dwarf.. I mean you could learn into sort of a drunken trance or something if you wanna lean into that angle.. ooor maybe some kind of intesnse stubborness
An orc could have a bunch of tribal markings which lights up when he activates bladesong..
My point is go crazy :) Don't let the base class description limit you.. As long as your respect the mechanics, I think you should be able to create whatever type of combat magic user you want to.
I'm a big fan of reflavoring... So when I look at something like bladesong.. my most important component is that this is a "mode" my character enters, which appears to make them faster and more agile.. So for example.. Imagine an Air Genasi who channels their air magic through their weapons.. the visual effect being that they'd sort create a pocket of wind around them by dragging the air with their swords in fast ryhmic motions... Then I'd mainly pick air based magic and otherwise reflavor other spells to tie into this bubble of wind.. Haste being obvious.. Spirit shroud being the wind lashing at my target as I strike them...
A tiefling could summon a bunch of ash which would swirl up around them, making them hard to see (justified the increased ac)..
For dwarf.. I mean you could learn into sort of a drunken trance or something if you wanna lean into that angle.. ooor maybe some kind of intesnse stubborness
An orc could have a bunch of tribal markings which lights up when he activates bladesong..
My point is go crazy :) Don't let the base class description limit you.. As long as your respect the mechanics, I think you should be able to create whatever type of combat magic user you want to.
Engaging INTENSE STUBBORNESS.
(ground cracks beneath feet as the dwarf folds their arms...and then their beard does the same)
Well, bladesinger used to use spells from the School of Song. Effectively, the original bladesinger were psuedo-sword-bards, and that sub-class is actually closer to the original flavor of the bladesinger. Now? Bladesinger is just another name for a fighter-wizard mix. Spell blade, swordmage, eldritch knight, etc. There's nothing distinctly elvish or fae about it anymore.
My point is that there's really no need of racial variants of bladesinger. It's already generic. All bladesingers pretty much use roughly the same spells, given the limited amount of melee wizard spell options. The only real variation will be weapon choices, maybe armor and feats.
It would have been nice if they’d have just published this as a swordmage or some such rather than a blade singer.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Well, bladesinger used to use spells from the School of Song. Effectively, the original bladesinger were psuedo-sword-bards, and that sub-class is actually closer to the original flavor of the bladesinger. Now? Bladesinger is just another name for a fighter-wizard mix. Spell blade, swordmage, eldritch knight, etc. There's nothing distinctly elvish or fae about it anymore.
My point is that there's really no need of racial variants of bladesinger. It's already generic. All bladesingers pretty much use roughly the same spells, given the limited amount of melee wizard spell options. The only real variation will be weapon choices, maybe armor and feats.
What was the School of Song? I am sitting here looking at the Complete Book of the Elves where Bladesinger made it's first appearence and I can't find it.
Also, the original Bladesinger was a Fighter/Mage multiclass kit so exactly a name for a specific fighter-wizard mix ;-)
What was the School of Song? I am sitting here looking at the Complete Book of the Elves where Bladesinger made it's first appearence and I can't find it.
Also, the original Bladesinger was a Fighter/Mage multiclass kit so exactly a name for a specific fighter-wizard mix ;-)
Hm. Could have sworn it was in the CBotE. Its been a while, so wouldn't be a surprise if I got the books mixed up.
Anyways, the School of Song was a mage school specialization that granted spells that were remarkably similar to the modern bard spell list (minus the healing), and was mainly performed by singing the spells. This was markedly different from the 2e bard, who was actually a Rogue kit. So, while they were, indeed, mages, they used the type of magic that modern bards are known for. Kind of like how 2e mages could also get their magic from devil pacts, but that is now a warlock thing. Mages in 2e were kind of the base for pretty much every arcane caster, after all.
EDIT - I couldn't find the book School of Song was in, but I do have this information I dug up. The school of song is a 'minor specialization' which gives you a combination of enchantment, charm and conjuration spells from other schools, and lets you cast them with only vocal components, but its opposition schools are evocation, necromancy, and greater divination. The school did talk about how it was singing for vocals, but not exactly enforced via mechanics.
So, there you go. School of Song, and I remember it talked about Bladesingers using it.
Yo.
So out pours "Tasha's Cauldron of Everything", and amidst that chaotic soup we got some not-so-minor tweaks to the Bladesinger subclass, including A) no racial restriction to the elvish lineage, and B) the ability to cast & slash with Extra Attack, so long as you use a cantrip.
This has opened the subclass freely to other races seeking to benefit from the subclass features, without relying on DM discretion (of course, most DM's would allows such things normally).
Personally, while you COULD concoct a reason why a sacred elven combat tradition somehow ended up being utilized by, say, an orc or a tiefling...I find that it may be better to utilize similar traditions from other races.
For example...perhaps halflings have their own version of the Bladesong, refined from the music of their festivals, and tales of their spur-of-the-moment adventures.
Or maybe goliath's have their own versions of viking skalds, weaving magic from their own brutal fighting styles & stories of daring feats (as they are known to celebrate competition).
Maybe a tiefling inherited a bloodline of Levistus, who, before he was a ice cube, was quite the dashing swashbuckler...or perhaps your tiefling is of Zariel; her martial prowess as a former celestial warrior imparting a bizarre gift within your tiefling curse.
Personally, I'm thinking of a dwarf...I have a dwarf character who has been a bard, and a barbarian in equal measure, who was a warrior of the goddess Haela Brightaxe.
A Bladesinger fits well within her concept...performing & fighting. And dwarves are known to sing songs of their ancestors within their halls, and celebrate bravery & victory. An affinity for magic provides a nice hook for why she broke off and went adventuring...as opposed to the rigid teachings of dwarf society: Haela rewards risk-takers, and bold new strategies.
But I'd like to hear how others plan on using the changes from "Tasha's Cauldron" to create their own unique Bladesingers.
What racial combinations do you plan on using? What do you think of the Bladesinger changes? What are some character backstories you have in mind...?
I'm not fond of the bladesinger changes due to bladesong being nerfed, and I am /especially/ not fond of the racial changes to abilities.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
One thing to note, Bladesingers don't technically sing to make the Bladesong work. It's not a musical song like a bard would sing. The name makes it a bit confusing but it's actually just a magical ability that incorporates sword fighting. It mimics a dance. They don't run around swinging a sword singing some elven opera (although I love the visual). I read somewhere they call it a song because the sound the sword makes as it sings through the air. You could be in bladesong while being completely silent.
That said, you could totally make a bladesinger Dwarf and could flavor it however you wanted. One thought is to substitute the grace of the elf with the brutality. Maybe the song is a rhythmic pounding of the axe meeting steel and flesh instead of the blade singing as it cuts through the air.
I wrote up a character I've been making here
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Personally, because I run my campaign in FR, I would allow for a non-elven character to be a Bladesinger but only if it was sufficiently well fleshed out in the backstory. Which is quite easy because the art of blade singing is taught in a master-apprentice way so the backstory of a renegate elven bladesinger who fell in love with non elven partner or took a non elven child under their wings and secretely taught them the art practically writes itself. You can imagine the master being found out, tried for treason, banished etc. for teaching the stuff, the player can have a moral conflict to use the skill that essentially got their master killed/banished and so on. Lots of cool stuff to choose from.
Well, bladesinger used to use spells from the School of Song. Effectively, the original bladesinger were psuedo-sword-bards, and that sub-class is actually closer to the original flavor of the bladesinger. Now? Bladesinger is just another name for a fighter-wizard mix. Spell blade, swordmage, eldritch knight, etc. There's nothing distinctly elvish or fae about it anymore.
My point is that there's really no need of racial variants of bladesinger. It's already generic. All bladesingers pretty much use roughly the same spells, given the limited amount of melee wizard spell options. The only real variation will be weapon choices, maybe armor and feats.
You are quite correct; the term "Bladesong" IS the sound of the weapon swooping through the air at a speed which creates a whistling sound.
In some cases, though, this WAS supplemented with the bladesinger humming or chanting in unison with the noise...which I always attributed to the verbal components of spells.
Different tune + different pitch = different spell : )
Their proficiency in "Performance" always left me feeling like they would naturally add the "song" to their "dance".
A dwarf would likely be all "stomp", "clang" or some bombastic style : )
I'm a big fan of reflavoring... So when I look at something like bladesong.. my most important component is that this is a "mode" my character enters, which appears to make them faster and more agile.. So for example.. Imagine an Air Genasi who channels their air magic through their weapons.. the visual effect being that they'd sort create a pocket of wind around them by dragging the air with their swords in fast ryhmic motions... Then I'd mainly pick air based magic and otherwise reflavor other spells to tie into this bubble of wind.. Haste being obvious.. Spirit shroud being the wind lashing at my target as I strike them...
A tiefling could summon a bunch of ash which would swirl up around them, making them hard to see (justified the increased ac)..
For dwarf.. I mean you could learn into sort of a drunken trance or something if you wanna lean into that angle.. ooor maybe some kind of intesnse stubborness
An orc could have a bunch of tribal markings which lights up when he activates bladesong..
My point is go crazy :) Don't let the base class description limit you.. As long as your respect the mechanics, I think you should be able to create whatever type of combat magic user you want to.
Engaging INTENSE STUBBORNESS.
(ground cracks beneath feet as the dwarf folds their arms...and then their beard does the same)
The power of denial "No... you did NOT hit me.. I have +5 AC.. so there!"
It would have been nice if they’d have just published this as a swordmage or some such rather than a blade singer.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
What was the School of Song? I am sitting here looking at the Complete Book of the Elves where Bladesinger made it's first appearence and I can't find it.
Also, the original Bladesinger was a Fighter/Mage multiclass kit so exactly a name for a specific fighter-wizard mix ;-)
Hm. Could have sworn it was in the CBotE. Its been a while, so wouldn't be a surprise if I got the books mixed up.
Anyways, the School of Song was a mage school specialization that granted spells that were remarkably similar to the modern bard spell list (minus the healing), and was mainly performed by singing the spells. This was markedly different from the 2e bard, who was actually a Rogue kit. So, while they were, indeed, mages, they used the type of magic that modern bards are known for. Kind of like how 2e mages could also get their magic from devil pacts, but that is now a warlock thing. Mages in 2e were kind of the base for pretty much every arcane caster, after all.
EDIT - I couldn't find the book School of Song was in, but I do have this information I dug up. The school of song is a 'minor specialization' which gives you a combination of enchantment, charm and conjuration spells from other schools, and lets you cast them with only vocal components, but its opposition schools are evocation, necromancy, and greater divination. The school did talk about how it was singing for vocals, but not exactly enforced via mechanics.
So, there you go. School of Song, and I remember it talked about Bladesingers using it.